Hate That Blooms

Prologue

Joaquín

I lie on my bed trying to get my biology homework done, but the sound of my parents arguing in their room is barely muffled by my headphones. I can make out little pieces of why they are arguing again. There’s only a week left of school before it lets out for the summer. Hopefully, this doesn’t ruin our plans to go on vacation to visit abuelo.

“ ?Es en serio, Ana! ?Esta vez te cache! Deja de decir mamadas. Sé que te has estado metiendo con él. (Seriously, Ana! I caught you this time! Just stop saying bullshit. I know you’ve been sleeping with him.)“ My dad’s words are angry, spitting like venom.

“ ?Qué quieres que te diga Ramón? (What do you want me to say, Ramon?)“ My mom shouts back at him.

I try to keep myself focused on my work, but I can feel the tears forming in the creases of my eyes. My father must have confirmed his lingering suspicion of my mom’s cheating. The sound of glass breaking has me pulling my headphones off and barreling out my door to their room.

I rush towards their bedroom, and my heart pounds in my chest. The fear that my mom threw something at my dad and hurt him is coursing through my body. I can’t bear the thought of my parents’ relationship falling apart right in front of me. Pausing outside their door, I’m uncertain of what lies behind it.

Taking a deep breath, I push the door open, only to be met with a scene of chaos. Shattered glass covers the floor, a testament to the intensity of their argument. My parents stand on opposite sides of the room, their faces flushed with anger and hurt.

I step forward, my voice trembling. “Mom, Dad, what’s going on?” I try to keep the tears from streaming down my face, but they betray my emotions.

They turn towards me, momentarily stunned by my presence. The tension in the room seems to dissipate, replaced by a heavy silence. My father’s eyes soften as he looks at me, realizing the impact of their fight on their child.

My mother’s voice quivers as she tries to regain control. “It’s nothing, mijo . Just a disagreement between your father and I.”

I can see the pain etched on their faces and the cracks in their relationship growing deeper. It’s clear that this argument is not just another passing disagreement; it’s a breaking point.

My father draws in a deep breath. “Ana, I just want honesty. I’m willing to work through this for the sake of our family. But you need to end it now.”

Shaking her head, her voice filled with regret, “I can’t, Ramón. I love him, and I want a divorce.”

Four words that hit my heart like a ton of bricks.

“You’re going to let Santiago Ruíz pull you away from your family? What about his family, Ana? Is he going to leave his two kids and wife for you?” Dad shouts as he leans against the wall for support, looking defeated.

My mind goes black. Santiago Ruíz is Gabriela’s dad. She’s one of the most beautiful girls in my junior class. Her dad has been fucking my mom, and now my mom wants to leave my dad for him. I can see her in my mind. I’ve had the biggest crush on her since the third grade, and now those feelings are mixed with disgust.

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. The realization hits me like a tidal wave, crashing against the walls of my heart. How could my mom do this? How could she betray my dad and our family like this? And with Gabriela’s dad, of all people.

Anger bubbles up inside me, fueling the tears that continue to stream down my face. I feel a mix of emotions: hurt, betrayal, and a deep sense of disappointment. The image of my mom and Santiago together flashes in my mind, tarnishing the innocent crush I had on Gabriela.

I try to gather my thoughts and find the right words to express my feelings, but my voice comes out choked and broken. “How could you, Mom? How could you do this to us? To Dad?” My words hang in the air, heavy with the weight of my shattered trust.

My dad, still leaning against the wall, looks at me with a mix of sadness and understanding. He takes a step towards me, his voice filled with raw vulnerability. “Son, this is not your fault. Your mother and I have our own issues, and sometimes people make choices that hurt others. But we’ll get through this together.”

But I can’t find comfort in his words. The pain is too fresh and raw. I turn to my mom, my voice laced with a mixture of anger and sorrow. “How could you destroy our family for someone else? Don’t you care about us? About me?”

My mom’s face crumples with guilt, and her voice is barely a whisper. “I’m sorry, mi amor . I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way. But I can’t deny my feelings anymore. I need to find my own happiness.”

Her words sting, and I feel a surge of resentment towards her. How can she prioritize her happiness over the stability and love of our family? I turn away from her, unable to bear the sight of her any longer.

In that moment, the room feels suffocating. The broken glass on the floor mirrors the shattered fragments of our family. I can’t stay here, trapped in this chaos. Without a word, I turn and walk out of the room, desperate to escape the pain and confusion that now envelops our home.

I slam the door to my room and kick the soccer ball that sits on the floor. It ricochets off the mirrored doors of my closet, then hits the wall. The fucking anger coursing through me leaves me panting and staring at my reflection.

I’m going to make Gabriela Ruíz’s life a living hell.